On May 23, 2025, the NOPD’s Special Operations Tactical II Investigations Team took four people into custody as they continue to search for the remaining OJC escapees and those who may have assisted any of the inmates after the escape.
At about 3:00 p.m., the Team executed a high-risk warrant at a home in New Orleans East after investigation showed that one or more of the occupants may have aided some of the inmates after the escape.
Four people inside the home came out peacefully and were ultimately taken in for questioning.
The home was searched for evidence linked to the alleged assistance of the escapees.
After questioning, one of the occupants was arrested for allegedly aiding two of the escapees. He is Emmitt Weber, a Black male.
Weber has been charged with accessory after the fact of simple escape.
Prior to the arrest, the Tactical II Team was responsible for obtaining search warrants and, with the assistance of Tactical Team I and Louisiana State Police, arrested escapee Dkenan Dennis at an abandoned home in New Orleans East on May 16, 2025.
The police operatives also located a vehicle of interest, which led to the arrests of Casey Smith on May 22, 2025 and Cortnie Harris on May 21, 2025. Smith and Harris were arrested and booked for their alleged roles in assisting the escapees after the breakout.
In addition, the Tactical II Team located and detained Connie Weeden, a Black female.
She has allegedly admitted to helping inmate Jermaine Donald. Weeden has been booked with an accessory after the fact of simple escape.
The Tactical II Team continues to execute high-risk warrants, collect video evidence and pursue leads on the whereabouts of the escapees as well as those who may have assisted them after the escape.
On Friday, the police operatives were in the central city reviewing surveillance footage in an area where some escapees were spotted soon after the breakout.
